Laura Swaithes

Biography

Laura Swaithes is a Physiotherapist by background and is currently working as a Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellow at Keele University. In 2013 she completed the NIHR Masters in Research Methods at the University of Nottingham and subsequently worked on large research projects at the Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sports, Exercise and Osteoarthritis, and the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre.

Laura was awarded a PhD from Keele in 2020 for work investigating the implementation of musculoskeletal innovations in Primary Care. Laura has recently completed an NIHR School for Primary Care Research post-doctoral fellowship and a Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Research Foundation fellowship. Her work focuses on understanding and optimising the uptake of evidence for musculoskeletal care and the role that patients and the public play in knowledge mobilisation.

Research and scholarship

MA (Research Methods), BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

Laura’s primary research interest is in knowledge mobilisation and implementation of best-care for musculoskeletal conditions. Laura has experience in systematic reviews, consensus methods and qualitative methods.

Teaching

Laura contributes to teaching and learning by helping to deliver:

• Research methods sessions to medical students
• Osteoarthritis core management training to allied health professionals
• Academic support in facilitating Critical Appraisal Topic groups

Further information

Laura is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the Health and Care Professions Council, and the West Midlands Knowledge Mobilisation Collaborative.